March 16

Born in 1666 in Fürstenwalde, Saxony, George Bähr originally trained as a carpenter. He gained prominence for his innovative church designs, combining Baroque grandeur with structural ingenuity. His masterpiece, the Dresden Frauenkirche, was completed after his death and became an iconic symbol of the city. Bähr served as the city architect of Dresden and influenced ecclesiastical architecture throughout Saxony. His work is celebrated for its elegant domes, harmonious proportions, and technical daring.

Born in 1823, Joseph Medill emigrated from Canada to the United States and became a prominent journalist. He purchased and led the Chicago Tribune, transforming it into a leading Republican newspaper. In the wake of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, he was elected as the city's 26th mayor and oversaw its reconstruction efforts. Medill advocated for civil service reform, improved public safety, and municipal transparency. His editorial influence and political leadership helped shape Chicago's development in the late 19th century. He remained active in journalism until his death in 1899.

Born in 1825, Roy Bean was a saloon-keeper turned justice of the peace in Val Verde County, Texas. He held court sessions in his saloon, dispensing frontier justice under the moniker 'The Law West of the Pecos.' Bean's colorful rulings, often shaped by his own interpretation of the law, became legendary in the American Old West. Though unofficial by modern standards, he wielded significant local power and became a folk hero. His eccentric life and persona have inspired countless stories, films, and legends of frontier justice.

John O'Leary (1830–1907) was a leading figure in the Irish republican movement during the 19th century. He joined the Young Irelanders and later became a senior member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). After years of political activism and imprisonment for sedition, he turned to journalism to advance the cause of Irish self-governance. O'Leary edited The Irish People newspaper, using his pen to rally support for Home Rule. His writings and speeches inspired a generation of nationalists and contributed to the broader struggle for Irish independence.

Gaston Calmette (1858–1914) was a prominent French journalist and editor-in-chief of Le Figaro. He gained fame for his investigative reporting and fearless editorials challenging political corruption. In 1914, Calmette ignited a scandal by publishing private letters involving the wife of a government minister. The controversy escalated until Henriette Caillaux, seeking to silence him, fatally shot Calmette in his office. His death sparked a national debate on press freedom and the interplay between politics and journalism in France.

Born Alice Charlotte Herz in Berlin in 1882, she became involved in socialist and peace movements before fleeing Nazi Germany in 1933. Settling in Detroit, Michigan, Herz continued her activism as a member of the American Peace Movement. Disturbed by the escalating violence of the Vietnam War, she took the dramatic step of self-immolation outside a federal building in downtown Detroit on March 16, 1965. Her act made international headlines as the first public self-immolation protest against the Vietnam conflict. Herz's sacrifice inspired other antiwar demonstrators and highlighted the moral urgency of peace efforts. She was remembered as a courageous voice against war, even at the cost of her own life.

Rachel Corrie (1979-2003) was an American peace activist and member of the International Solidarity Movement. While working in the Gaza Strip, she sought to prevent home demolitions and advocated for nonviolent resistance. Corrie's diaries and essays, published posthumously in 'Let Me Stand Alone,' reveal her deep commitment to social justice and human rights. She died tragically at the age of 23 in a confrontation with an Israeli military bulldozer, becoming a potent symbol of civilian activism. Corrie's life and writings continue to inspire debates on the ethics of protest and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ralph Erskine (1914-2005) was a visionary British-Swedish architect celebrated for his humanistic approach to modernism. Educated at the University of Cambridge, he moved to Sweden in 1939 and adopted a climate-responsive design philosophy. Erskine's notable works include the Byker Wall in Newcastle and the London Ark office building, distinguished by their innovative integration of communal spaces and environmental considerations. He championed social housing and town planning projects that prioritized residents' well-being. Over his 60-year career, Erskine received numerous awards, including the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects. His legacy endures in architecture that blends modernist ideals with social responsibility.